The California State University Employee UpdateWednesday, June 13, 2012

Trustees Begin Search Process for Chancellor

The CSU Board of Trustees has begun the search for a new chancellor with the formation of a Special Committee for the Selection of the Chancellor. Chaired by Trustee Bill Hauck, committee members will include Roberta Achtenberg, Bernadette Cheyne (faculty), Debra Farar, Kenneth Fong, Steven Glazer, Jillian Ruddell (student), and board chair Bob Linscheid (alumni) as ex officio.

The committee will hold its first meeting June 28 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Chancellor's Office in Long Beach to receive input from the CSU community and the public. The committee will meet in closed session following the public forum to discuss other business related to the search.

"We are committed to having the CSU community and various stakeholders have a voice, and the committee will be seeking their input and feedback,” said Hauck.

In addition to the meeting, anyone can provide input or direct questions to the selection committee by sending an email to chancellorsearch@calstate.edu. In addition, the CSU has a webpage that provides information on the selection process and related links. The CSU also has an executive search page where the position description and recruitment ad are posted.

CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed announced his retirement May 24 following a 14-year tenure with the university system, and said he will remain until the board selects the next chancellor. It is expected that the board will finalize the selection in the fall.

CSU Community Offers Ideas for Budget Cuts

Ideas to reduce costs and raise revenues to manage the CSU's current and potential budget reductions were discussed among members of the CSU community Monday.

At a second meeting webcast to campuses, the session, attended by approximately 750 CSU community members, solicited approximately 150 questions and suggestions via e-mail ranging from increasing tuition for super seniors and students taking more than 18 units, garnering more industry investment in the CSU, offering more Cal State Online courses and increasing employees' share of health care costs.

Some options raised are already being considered, CSU executives noted, such as shared administrative services, increasing the number of nonresident students, tiered tuition, and renting campus facilities. Other suggestions such as reduced work hours require more investigation.

Facing an additional $250 million budget cut in November if voters reject Gov. Jerry Brown's tax measure, the CSU is looking at a reduction in its state funding to $1.8 billion. Monday's webcast was a follow-up to a May 23 System Budget Advisory Committee meeting, inviting the CSU community's input to find viable solutions to its budget challenges.

After further discussion with the chancellor and campus presidents, the CSU system executives will make specific recommendations to the Board of Trustees and then follow with additional options pending the outcome of the governor's tax measure. Questions, suggestions and comments from the meeting along with extended responses will be available on the Budget Strategies website later this week.